While we are all at home making our lovely meals or ordering takeout, here's a few wine and food pairing basics if you are looking to match your drink with dinner!
The rule of thumb is to match the flavors in your food to the flavors in your wine.
Try to balance the flavors so neither the food nor the wine overpower each other. The bolder the food, the bolder the wine; the lighter the food, the lighter the wine.
Example: If you are having a buttery, creamy dish, you can match it with a buttery, creamy Chardonnay. If you are having a big fatty Steak, you can match it with a big bold Cabernet Sauvignon. A salad with an acidic dressing like lemon or vinaigrette, you can match with an acidic wine like a Sauvignon Blanc.
Exception: Spicy foods. You DO NOT want a spicy wine, you want a sweeter white wine. The sweetness softens the heat and cleanses your palate in between bites. Otherwise your mouth will get very uncomfortable with all the spiciness and nothing to wash it down! This is why a lot of Indian spice dishes or hot wings would go great with a sweeter Riesling, Moscato, or Gewürztraminer!
Think about SAUCES.
The sauce your dish is in can totally change the wine pairing, because it changes the flavor profile of the dish so much.
Examples: Sweet tangy BBQ with fruity reds like Zinfindel or Australian Shiraz. Red Wine Sauce with earthy wines like a Red Bordeaux or an Italian Barbera. Marinara Sauce with medium body, slightly acidic reds like a Merlot or Sangiovese. Peppercorn sauce with a peppery Petite Syrah.
"What grows together, goes together"
Usually the country your dish comes from is a great indicator of what wine is a great match! Often the country that makes some of this great wine, also makes the best food to compliment it, so it's a fun trick to use!
Examples: Argentinian Asado with an Argentinian Malbec. Italian pasta with a Tuscan Sangiovese. Spanish Paella with a Spanish Rioja or Tempranillo. Goat cheese with a French Sancerre. German sausage with a German dry Riesling or Gruner Veltliner. American burger with a good Ol' Napa Cab!
You like what you like!
Final note, you like what you like, so in the end, pair whatever wine with your food that makes you happy :)
This was most informative and may save me from pinging you every time we need a wine pairing suggestion with our food! Did not realize that sweet wine is best with spicy food and the impact sauces can make on your wine pairing. Your Dad & I are going to have allot of fun putting this to the test!!